Kevin A. Menicoche

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, during my recent constituency visit to Wrigley in January, I was contacted by the Wrigley DEA members and parents who are concerned that students who went to Fort Simpson for high school were having a lot of problems. If these students are to complete secondary school, their only alternative is to live in Fort Simpson and attend the Fort Simpson high school, and they cannot. Those that do attend are at the expense of the parents.

I am proud that in the past three years there have been a total of 14 children who travelled to...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I’ll be glad to go through the Minister’s budget for her. It’s the line item on prevention and promotion services. The budget item is up a million dollars from the previous year, from the revised estimate. That was my comment there, Mr. Chairman.

I’m glad to hear that we’re expanding respite services and I’d certainly get the confirmation if it will be done in Fort Simpson. Most particularly for families of special needs is what I was asking for there, Mr. Chair.

As well, I think, if anything, one additional item that I’ve raised with the Minister already...

So the department is working on it and they will review it with the Social Programs committee and it will be at that point that the committee and the Regular Members will have input into the new policy. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just in terms of timing -- I think the Premier just mentioned it earlier -- what kind of timing do the Aboriginal groups have to review and acknowledge and perhaps even sign on should they wish to? What is the timing of that? Is it end of April? Is it this summer? Is it this fall?

I think that the future development of the Northwest Territories does include having the GNWT and Aboriginal governments having a dialogue. Once again, is there a solution or another alternative that we can involve Aboriginal groups in discussion as we work towards a final devolution agreement without them actually signing on? Can they be observers, like the Premier said, or is there another mechanism to allow full involvement? I really believe that as we work towards devolution, we’re also talking about evolution of our political development of the Northwest Territories. All must be involved.

Mr. Speaker, mahsi cho. Evolution before devolution is the biggest concern of Nahendeh residents at this time. I’m getting many phone calls and concerns from constituents. I guess, firstly, as myself and all Nahendeh constituents will be part of the Dehcho process, how exactly will it impact the Dehcho people and those living there? There is still no clarity as the distinction and difference between the agreement-in-principle on devolution of lands and resources and the actual devolution final agreement.

I read, with great interest, in this week’s News/North the editorial: Territorial and...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to re-raise the issue of medical travel and issues by constituents. I know that the Minister had indicated that they are currently reviewing the guidelines, and many of the issues that cross my desk and what I raise in the issue is not dissimilar than Mr. Beaulieu’s. The few others are some elders that are being medevaced, are being medevaced without an escort with them, especially those that require translation. I have got constituents in my riding that do what they can for the elders and those that are sick and in need, and they often go on...

Some of the alternate solutions, of course, without Aboriginal groups actually signing on, is some of the funding that’s available to hold in trust their portion thereof of whatever percentage of their group. Is that something the Premier can look at?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke about evolution before devolution and I think that these two go hand in hand. It’s actually being forced by the signing of the agreement-in-principle as we move forward.

I have questions for the Premier. As we move along with the talks towards the devolution final agreement and there’s resistant Aboriginal groups out there only because there’s lots of information and there’s lots of uncertainty and fear about what it really means to sign on to the AIP, are there other solutions out there that can still involve the Aboriginal governments...

Mr. Chairman, I will thank the Minister for going that extra effort and keep us in the loop as the situation develops. It is just any situation, certainly, I do have.

Early today in my Member’s statement I spoke about the lack of social worker issue as well. I don’t know if it is appropriate to this page, Mr. Chairman, but it is probably a few pages down, but a provision of a health and social services worker for our communities is much needed and the people have asked for... They are looking forward to it only because having a staff member in the community, in the larger communities, to...